Onewhero Golf Club is in the Waikato but is a member of the Auckland District Golf Association. The fertile volcanic soil has encouraged the tree growth and allows for a year-round challenging 18 holes of golf.
There is a great history of the club on the website and this is celebrated around the clubrooms. Since 1929 Onewhero Golf Club has been plotting a golf course to put you to the test.
I love a tree, there are many varieties to admire for their beauty, their majesty and some are useful as a windbreak or to put in your firebox in the winter.
Onewhero has planted thousands of trees which have flourished on the rich volcanic soil. Dominated by macrocarpa trees but also other natives and a monkey puzzle added in for interest.
The macrocarpa tree is great for burning, very popular long burning wood. This tree is solid, most trees are 90% air these are more like 90% trunk and branch. Low hanging branches result in no way out if you end up in one of the many treelined options for you.
Admire the trees don’t go in amongst them. Good luck with that plan at Onewhero.
A pretty place to play, I was expecting some hills but it was not too steep. A worthy workout and an interesting variety of holes.
The first hole sets the scene, a massive gully to drive into followed by an uphill approach to a difficult pedestal green. I pared the hole and my spirits lifted. With hindsight, I think I had just upset the course and thereafter the trees worked together to make my life hell.
Standing on the 2nd tee you get a breathtaking view across the course, including the newly remodelled holes on the back nine.
The club redeveloped the back nine holes about 5 years ago. If the trees weren’t enough they added three water holes, more hazards, bunkers and out of bounds. Hold onto your hat this course has plenty to offer.
The front nine is a tree-lined nightmare, my driver was having a day of non-compliance which introduced me to many a low hanging branch. There are doglegs all through the front nine, so getting off the tee was keeping me busy.
The back nine is awesome, Onewhero grows into a golf course of note as you make your way around the second half. The tree danger does not go away, I will quote from one of the hole descriptions.
” Stray left off the tee and you will end up in all sorts of bother, the trees here are so thick with their branches close to the ground. Stray to the right and hit it far enough you will land on the 3rd fairway. At the 180 metre mark a large pine tree can come into play on the right hand side. To be safe, just hit the ball down the middle. ”
A pro tip or general hole advice is surprisingly useless at times, hit the middle of the fairway, keep your ball on the green, beware of putting surface.
Amen Corner
The start of Amen Corner (12th to 14th) is were the course stamps it’s mark on the world.
The 12th is a par 5, reachable in 2 if you want to take on the water guarding the front of the green. I hit my driver a long way and chose a 7 iron to get me up over the water. I impressed myself by hitting it so well I flew the green by 10 metres.
They have done a good job with remodelling this part of the course. It is a change of scene from tree-lined doglegs and makes the back nine a treat.
13 is a short par 3 followed by an even shorter par 3. On the 14th tee, the 121 metres is intimidating and beautiful. This would be the hole of the day for me. Onewhero has made the list of Best Golf Holes in NZ with its presentation of the 14th.
Out of Amen corner, the 15th is a short par 4, 289 metres and surely reachable in the dry conditions. I waived the white flag looking at the dangerous drive. I went 8 iron & 8 iron, very clever golf to hit the green and the 3 putts made it a stupid outcome.
It was a hot day and I was fading fast. The trees were dry and creaking all around me. I succumbed to my own head of thoughts.
Like a Stephen Spielberg movie, the place was closing in on me. Hiding behind my sofa on each tee shot, I couldn’t muster a par on any of the last 6 holes. There are 2 short par 5’s to finish, I couldn’t even hack a par out of those.
A great day out at a Onewhero Golf Club. But if I had my way I’d organise a firewood sale and gladly watch trailer loads of the dreaded macrocarpa tree head off to heat the homes of needy people.